‘Billy’ Switching to Turf for Saranac

[Wandering Eyes]

Already a Grade I winner on dirt, courtesy of his victory in last year’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, Albaugh Family Stables’s Free Drop Billy (Union Rags) will switch to turf for Saturday’s GIII Saranac S. at the Spa, and while the challenge is not insignificant, there are some things to like.

Also beaten a neck in last year’s GI Hopeful S., Free Drop Billy managed to be just a fringe player on the Triple Crown trail this season, with a runner-up effort in the GII Holy Bull S. and thirds in the GIII Gotham S. and in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. (by DQ). Well beaten in the GI Kentucky Derby and in the GI Belmont S., the flashy chestnut was a candidate for the GI Secretariat S. for his turf debut, but lands here instead. His pedigree very much says yes. His dam was Grade III-placed on the grass, but more importantly, bred this year’s G1 Dubai Sheema Classic hero Hawkbill (Kitten’s Joy). There is plenty of turf black-type up and down the page, including GI Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Cozzene. And though Union Rags’s progeny could be expected to excel on the dirt, the sire is kin to the dam of the versatile Declaration of War (War Front).

The once-beaten Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will try to close a wildly successful summer for owner Peter Brant, who won the GI Diana S. (and GI Beverly D. S.) with Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and last weekend’s GII Ballston Spa S. with Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The bay colt took the first defeat of his career when runner-up to Up the Ante (Smart Strike) in the July 4 Manila S. at Belmont, but returned to his best form in his latest, coming from what appeared to be a hopeless position to just tough off Maraud (Blame) in the GII Hall of Fame S. over yielding ground Aug. 3.

Therapist (Freud) has made light work of state-bred stakes in his two most recent appearances, taking legs of the New York Stallion S. series at Belmont June 24 and here Aug. 6, but he’s got something to prove at the open graded level.

 

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